CAIRO — Rival Palestinian leaders on Thursday held their first detailed talks on reconciliation since the Islamic militant Hamas seized control of the Gaza Strip more than four years ago, declaring they made progress toward sharing power but failing to resolve key issues.
Western-backed Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Hamas chief Khaled Mashaal talked for two hours in Cairo but did not reach agreement on such touchy matters as the composition of an interim unity government and a date for elections.
The meeting raised new questions about whether the rivals are serious about sharing power or just going through the motions.
The split, leaving competing governments in the West Bank and Gaza, has complicated peace efforts with Israel. The rift is unpopular among Palestinians, but the political camps also have benefited from the status quo and would have to give up positions of power for reconciliation.
Both leaders described the atmosphere in Thursday’s meeting as positive, suggesting they are ready to embark on a partnership despite the bitter animosity of the past.
“What is important to us is that we deal with each other as partners and shoulder the same responsibility toward our people and our cause,” Abbas said. Mashaal said he and his former rival “opened a new page” in relations.
In Israel, government spokesman Mark Regev warned that “the closer Abu Mazen (Abbas) gets to Hamas, the further he moves away from peace.”
Abbas favors negotiations with Israel as the path toward Palestinian statehood, but his negotiations with Israel’s current government never got off the ground. Hamas opposes peace talks and refuses to recognize the Jewish state.
What’s next
The two sides are set to meet again next month, starting Dec. 20, to discuss restructuring the Palestine Liberation Organization, the umbrella group headed by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. Hamas, which is not part of the PLO, is seeking a role in the group as a possible steppingstone for taking the leadership of the Palestinian independence movement away from Fatah.
